RoadVitals

2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Sep 22, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 12, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4, most frequently naming the engine and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04V023000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Jan 12, 2004
6,958 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN 2003 VULCAN 1500 CLASSIC, 1500 DRIFTER, 2003-2004 1500 MEAN STREAK, 2003 1600 CLASSIC, AND 2003-2004 NOMAD FL MODEL MOTORCYCLES, HIGH OIL PRESSURE UPON A COLD START-UP CAN DEFORM THE OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE OIL FILTER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL FILTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.Manufacturer number MC04-04View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 22, 2013

THE RUBBER ON MY REAR TIRE (160/80 B 16 M/C 75H) BROKE AT THE TREAD GROVES AND SEPARATED FROM THE CASING, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. FORTUNATELY THE BIKE WAS PARKED WHEN THE TIRE WENT FLAT. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS BRAND AND MODEL. THE FIRST THE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED RESULTING IN A LARGE BULGE. IT ALSO WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED. TIRE PRESSURES ARE CHECKED ONCE PER WEEK AND BEFORE ANY LONG TRIP. PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED AT 40PSI PER MANUF. SPEC

NHTSA ID
10544861
Incident
Sep 21, 2013
Mileage
85,495 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2006

KAWASAKI'S UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY IS A RIPOFF! I OWN A 2003 KAWASAKI NOMAD MOTORCYCLE WITH 170,345 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND MY EXTENDED "UNLIMITED MILEAGE" WARRANTY EXPIRES ON 8/19/2008. ON 9-25-06, I NOTICED A MAJOR OIL LEAK COMING FROM A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE #1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SLEEVE. ON 9-27-06, I TOOK MY BIKE (BY TRAILER) TO MY DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ON 10-14-06, I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY DEALER (WHO WAS EAGER TO REPAIR THE BIKE) THAT KAWASAKI WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE WARRANTY WORK TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON 10-16-06, I CALLED KAWASAKI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY BIKE, KAWASAKI WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO WEAR AND DETERIORATION OCCASIONED BY USE OF THE PRODUCT. THE OIL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE AUTOMATIC CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS WHICH ALLOWED THE CAM CHAIN OVER TIME TO STRETCH AND RUB A HOLE IN THE SPARK PLUG SLEEVE. IF THE CAM CHAIN WERE TO BREAK, THIS COULD CAUSE THE MOTOR TO SIEZE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE RIDER. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST KAWASAKI ENGINES AND ONE KAWASAKI SHOULD BE AWARE OF. IN FACT, KAWASAKI OF CANADA HAS A CAM CHAIN TENSIONER EXTENDER (PART #92027-1500-DE) THAT CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM, YET KAWASAKI USA HAS NO SUCH PART. WHY IS THIS? FURTHERMORE, I ASKED WHY KAWASAKI MOTORS REPAIRED MY BIKE IN MARCH 2006 FOR A WORN OUT STATOR, IN JUNE 2006 FOR WORN OUT WHEEL BEARINGS AND FORK SEALS AND IN AUGUST 2006 FOR A WORN OUT U-JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT; ALL UNDER THE "UNLIMITED MILEAGE" WARRANTY. THEY AGAIN HAD NO ANSWER. WELL, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER: M-O-N-E-Y! IN ORDER TO FIX THE OIL LEAK, KAWASAKI WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM THE FRAME, REPLACE CAM CHAINS, SPARK PLUG SLEEVES, GASKETS, ETC. ETC. THIS WOULD COST KAWASAKI MEGABUCKS, SO THEY SAID IN ESSENCE WE WON'T HONOR THE WARRANTY SO FIX IT YOURSELF. I ORDERED THE PARTS AND DID THE REPAIR WORK MYSELF. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171980
Incident
Sep 25, 2006
Mileage
170,345 mi